AnAge entry for Tyto alba

Classification (HAGRID: 01700)

Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Aves (Taxon entry)
            Order: Strigiformes
                Family: Tytonidae
                    Genus: Tyto
Species
Tyto alba
Common name
Barn owl
Synonyms
Strix alba

Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits

Maximum longevity
34 years (wild)
Source
ref. 445
Sample size
Medium
Data quality
Acceptable
Observations

These animals have a relatively short lifespan in the wild with one study estimating an average lifespan of 1.7 years. Nonetheless, it has been reported that they can live up to 34 years in the wild [0445]. This is not impossible but questionable considering that the oldest individual in banding studies involving thousands of recoveries was 21.3 years of age [0729].

Studies have shown that, unlike most mammals, the sensitivity of barn owls' ears does not deteriorate with age [1345].

Life history traits (averages)

Female sexual maturity
365 days
Male sexual maturity
365 days
Incubation
33 days
Clutch size
6 (oviparous)
Clutches per year
2
Weight at hatching
15 g
Adult weight
580 g
Postnatal growth rate
0.17 days-1 (from logistic function)

Metabolism

No information on metabolism is available.

References

External Resources

Integrated Taxonomic Information System
ITIS 177851
Animal Diversity Web
ADW account (if available)
Encyclopaedia of Life
Search EOL
NCBI Taxonomy
Taxonomy ID 56313
Entrez
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Ageing Literature
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Images
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Internet
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